Marite Firearm Suspect Appears in Court

A 42-year-old man from Marite appeared before the Mkhuhlu Magistrate's Court on Friday, 24 July 2026, following his arrest in an intelligence-driven police operation targeting violent crime in the Calcutta policing area.

The accused, Sbusiso Morake, faces charges of unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, and possession of a prohibited firearm.

The court postponed the matter to 30 July 2026 to allow Morake time to secure legal representation. He remains in custody.

Police have described the arrest as a significant breakthrough in ongoing efforts to combat violent crime in the area. Investigators are now conducting forensic examinations on the recovered firearms to establish whether they were used in other serious crimes committed within the Calcutta policing precinct.

Morake was arrested during a coordinated operation involving Crime Intelligence and national police resources deployed to the area as part of ongoing efforts to remove illegal firearms from communities and bring those linked to violent crime to justice.